Knitting device



Sept. 28, 1948. 4,), WOLFF 2,450,067

KNITTING DEVICE Filed March 25, 1946 Patented Sept. 28, 1948 7"2,450,067 h 1 Kiujrrmc DEVICE Harry J. D. Wolff-,YamNuys,Calif.,"assignor to Ernest Huntley, Burbank, cam.

, Application March 25, 194i, sit-1.1 No. 656,808

My invention relates to knitting or weavingdevices of the type whereintworowsof fingers are provided in parallel bars and weaving or-knittingis efiected by looping .the yarn overthe fingers in various patterns andcausing the finished work to pass between the bars. L v l As its primaryobject my invention is-intended to provide a knitting, device havingimproved knitting fingers which facilitatethe formation of a uniformweave and'which enables the knitting process to be carriedon withminimum isual attention, thus providing a device which is particularlysuitable for use byphysically handicapped persons,.or those whoseeyesight is impaired. r

Another object isto provide a knitting or weaving device in which theknitting fingers and bars which carry them'are integral, and which may,infact, be formed from extruded metal, preferably aluminum; so as toprovide a light weight but strong tool. 7

With the above and other objects in view as mayappear hereinafter,reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, in which I igure 1is a fragmentary plan view of my knitting device.;

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through 22 of Fig. 1,showing particularly the means for adjusting the spacing between thefinger bars.

Figure 3 is another enlarged transverse sectional view through 3-3 ofFig. 1, indicating partially the manner in which stitches are loopedover the knitting fingers.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through 44 of Fig. 3,illustrating the manner in which the knitting fingers are disposed atthe extremities of rudimentary ribs, which facilitate the removal of thestitches as the knitting or weaving progresses.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of a typical hand tool employed with myknitting device to remove the stitches from the knitting fingers.

A pair of finger bars I is provided which are preferably in the form ofextrusions of hollow rectangular cross-section. Each finger bar isprovided on its upper side near one vertical wall with a series ofknitting fingers 2. Each series of knitting fingers 2 is integral withits finger bar I and, initially, is in the form of a single continuousrib forming a part of the extrusion. The individual fingers are formedfrom said rib by milling the rib crosswise.

Each knitting finger 2 comprises a tapered shank 3, one edge of which isessentially parallel 5 Claims. (ClrGHl v 2. I v to but offset a slightdistance back of the adjacent vertical side of the finger bar. This sideofthe shank curves inwardly over the finger bar'and the upper end of theshank terminates in a semicircular offset head I, whichbefore millingthe rib is inthe form of a, continuous bead. 1

Each knitting finger is disposed on a rudimen-v tary ridge 5 extendingtransversely on the upper side of the finger bars. The ridges 5 areformed simultaneously with the milling operation which separates theknitting fingers by causing the milling cutter to out below the normalupper sur-, face of the finger bar. The adjacent upper cor ner of eachbar is so extruded that it coincides with the milled surface of thefinger bar between the ridges 5 rather than the normal upper surface ofthe bar andforms a rudimentary depressed shoulder. 1

When theknitting bars are placed in parallel spaced relation with theirknitting fingers at the adjacent sides. of the finger bars, the knittingfingers extend upwardly and curve away from each other, as representedbest in Figs. 2. and}. The fingerbars are held in adjusted spacedrelation by means of connecting shafts 1. A pair of these shafts issecured at 8 adjacent theextremities of one of the finger bars andextends through appropriate openings in the other finger bar. Theextremities of the shaft 1 are threaded in the screw members 9, havingshanks l 0 which are journaled within their corresponding finger bar andare held in place by means of a groove H and are intersected bytangentially disposed retainer pins l2 through the finger bar I. Theprotruding portion of the members 9 have knurled heads l3.

The shape of the knitting fingers is of primary importance; for, byreason of the diverging relationship between the adjacent surfaces ofthese fingers and the ofiset disposal of the heads 4, the knittingoperation is greatly facilitated; that is, the loops of yarn may bereadily drawn over the finger bars and retained by the heads. In asucceeding step of the knitting operation the loops are removed by ahand tool [4. The hand tool itself is conventional but is illustrated inorder to explain the function of the ridges 5. The end of the hand toolis formed into a curved and tapered hook I5 which is adapted to ridealong either side of the shoulder formed by ridges 5 and slip under aloop of yarn so that the loop may be raised around the ofiset head 4 andoil of the knitting fingers. By reason of the guiding action afforded bythe ridge 5, the step of removing the completed stitches is greatlyknitting devices intended to accomplish the samepurpose as the deviceherein described, have been made. These, however, comprised woodenfinger bars in which a series of nails or screws were. placed along thebars, which ha proven to be a tedious and expensive method ofconstruction; some fifty fingers being provided in each bar.

Furthermore the shape of these fingers is much inferior to the shapewhich applicant has found by experimentation to be eminentlysatisfactory. Quiteapart from'this, however, applicanthas found that byextruding each finger bar and its series of knitting fingers as a singleextrusion having the cross-section depicted in Figs. 2 and 3, theintervening material between the knitting fingers may be milled quicklyand economically. It is then merely necessary to buff the fingers by alongitudinual movement with respect to the finger bar to finish thecorners of the knitting fingers.

Although there has been, described a specific embodiment of theinvention, it is to be understood that various modifications may be madethereinwithout departing from the spirit of the invention or the scopeof the appended claims. Iclaim: I a 1. A knitting device, comprising: apair of opposed and spaced finger bars; sets o'fintegral upstandingfingers spaced in staggered relation along the confrontingupper marginsof said bars, said fingers including upwardly tapering shanks, the upperportions of the shanks of the opposed sets of fingers curving awayfromeach other and terminating in rounded head elements on their remotesides. i

2 A knitting device, comprising: a pair of op- 4 posed and spaced fingerbars, sets of integral upstanding fingers spaced in staggered relationalong the confronting upper margins of said bars, the confronting sidesof the fingers of each set curving away from the fingers of the otherset and terminating in stitch retaining head elements on their remotesides, and means for securing said bars in adjustable spaced relationwith each bhe f 3.,A knitting device, comprising:-' a pair of opposedand spaced finger bars, the upper surfaces of said bars havingrudimentary sets of transversely extending staggered ridges, andintegral upstanding knitting fingers at the adjacent extremitie ofsaidsets of ridges, said ridges forming with said bars guide shouldersalong the sides of said knitting fingers and continuing therefrompartially across said finger bars.

A knitting device, comprising: finger bars, the upper surfaces having aplurality of integral upstanding knittingfingers; and integral ridgesequal in width to said knitting fingers extending from thebase endsthereof partially across said bar to form guide shoulders for a pointedtool when said tool is moved across the bar and alongside said fingersI5. A knitting device, comprising: finger bars, the upper surfaces havinga'plurality of integral upstanding knitting fingers; and integral ridgesequal in width to said knitting fingers extending from the base endsthereof partially across said bar to form guide shoulders for a pointedtool when said tool is moved across the bar and alongside said fingers,each of said fingers curving upwardly and over said finger bar andhaving heads overhanging said ridges.

'- HARRY J, D. WOLFF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,072,668 Eltgroth Mar. 2, 1937

